Medical Imaging Specialists

When getting any medical imaging procedure done, these are the specially trained pediatric professionals who are part of your child's healthcare team.

Radiologists are pediatric doctors who interpret your child's images. Our radiologists are board-certified physicians who specialize in pediatric imaging. Technologists and sonographers work under a radiologist's direction, which is based on an order from your child's doctor, your child's medical history and current symptoms. A radiologist completes a report on your child's exam, which when done is automatically faxed to the doctor who ordered your child's exam.

Child life specialists help prepare and educate you and your child. Using medical play and developmentally appropriate language, these trained pediatric professionals help explain medical imaging exams to your child. Learn more about how our child life specialists can help your child and their siblings​.

Technologists position your child for the exam, and control the computer that takes images. These licensed professionals have completed formal education and training in a specialized area — such as x-ray, CT, MRI, interventional radiology, ultrasound and nuclear medicine. Working under the direction of a radiologist, our technologists are credentialed with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologists and Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety.

Sonographers control the equipment and perform special techniques to create ultrasound images from your child's exam. Also working under the direction of a radiologist, our sonographers are board certified by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

​Pediatric hospitalists and anesthesiologists are pediatric doctors who specialize in sedating your child, if the exam requires it. They wi​ll talk with you about different sedations and answer any questions that you have. They supervise the medical imaging sedation nurses.

​Sedation nurses work with our pediatric hospitalists and anesthesiologists to safely sedate your child. Before the exam, they ask you and your child questions about your child's health and medical history. They also monitor vital signs and give your child contrast, if ordered by your radiologist.

​A medical physicist and MRI physi​cistsmake sure our imaging procedures are safe and appropriate for kid​s, and that we maintain our high imaging standards. The medical physicist makes sure all equipment is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Our MRI physicist selects, sets up and optimizes MRI protocols, imaging quality assurance and control and MRI physics education.

Lurie Children's provides healthcare regardless race, color, religion (creed), sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin (ancestry), or disability. Financial assistance for medically necessary services is based on family income and hospital resources, and is provided to children under age 21 whose primary residence is in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Lurie Children's complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or disability.